Be sure you leave a comment on each design team member’s blog today because TWO of the design team members are going to be picked to have someone from their blog comments WIN a $50 Gift Certificate to My Time Made Easy ™ LLC!

NO ONE knows which two designers are hiding the treasure, so don’t forget to stop by each design team members blog and leave a little love there. Include your email address-so you can be contacted if YOU are one of the lucky winners!

The patterns print horizontally and vertically so no matter what your project, your pattern can suit the needs of it! Now you can have these fun patterns in any/every color of the rainbow with a few clicks of a button. SO FUN.

I added the stripe pattern from the Pretty Prinatbles Digital Paper: Cherry On Top Collection Cherry On Top.

To avoid BULK on this I used printer paper for this one!! It works like a nice lightweight cardstock, only much easier to use when wrapping around the base of my template. I then wrapped around my ribbon.

For my Shoppe Window, I printed the Cherry Floral pattern from Cherry On Top Collection , then cut out my awning top! Looks so pretty doesn’t it? I also stamped/colored/cut my lantern image.

In the window I created a “scene”. I stamped the tea pot image from On Display 1, I then stamped the mini tea cups from the Sign It set. On those I used a marker tip to create mini flowers on them. The wood grain pattern from the Home Improvement set fites perfectly in the window, so I used to make the display table. I then doodled the table end.

For the look of wall paper I used the small flower image from the Fanciful Flourishes set, lightly in the background! I love that little touch.

Now as we go towards the side, you can see my two side windows. They are from the Home Improvement set (as is the door).

As you can see they are stamped and colored to match my Tea Parlor. I love creating little peeks into the house, through the windows! The possibilities are endless. I used the small tea pot from the Just For You set, and again doodled flowers on it. The tea cups from the Sign It set, are the same as the ones I used in front window, and cupcake image is also from the Sign It set.

Now lets move on to the other side…..

Looks just like the side of an old fashioned store.

I have my door, offset to the right, towards the back of the Tea Parlor

I used the Home Improvement Cut File to trim out my door, then colored around the “trim”. I added a little brad for my door knob.

Here is my sign

This label is from the Sign It set. This set has images and coordinating sentiments to match.

I LOVE being able to create coordinating signs to display what your Shoppe theme is! The sign was also cut using the Home Improvement Cut File, and the trim also colored, like the door. I stamped the tea cup, and again made little flowers to add to the design.

For the roof, I decided to use the scallop border building image from Home Improvement set to create my shingles. Once stamped, I used a gray copic marker to quickly add some color/dimension to the shingles.

This easily fits my Biscotti and tea, as you can see here. This template is quite large and can hold a ton!

I could have fit an entire package of the Biscotti, but I ate some of it while taking my photos! LOL!

If you have a personal cutting machine you can alter the size too 😀 Now how fun is that?

Fashioned after the Shop Around Template, this coordinating cut file is a super sweet and rather large Shop/House shaped card & envelope file, that was created so you can further utilize the images from Home Improvement, Shoppe Window, On Display 1, and Sign it stamp sets.

You can decorate the slide-on style envelope, to look *just* like a customized Shop/House and put your message on the house/shop shaped insert card!!How cute and perfect would this be for:Holiday card from your family-feature a photo inside!

a special themed party (be it birthday, brunch/lunch/dinner, little girls invite)

welcome to the neighborhood

new home

bringing home baby

bridal shower

open house

school /store/shop themed gift card holder

home Improvement

moving/just moved

House warming card or invite

or other card/invitation?!

No matter what the occasion, just the fact that this card is homemade, is sure to grab the admiration and attention of the receiver, no matter what the occasion!

Today mine serves as an invitation to tea!

Just like the Tea Parlor I created I made this to match.

This time I used that mini tea pot from the Just For You set, with the little tea cup from the Sign It set.

Now the envelope on this was meant to slid over the card, and it’s purpose is to also serve as the card FRONT in the fact that you decorate it like you would your card front, then as you slide it off, it reveals the INSIDE of your card.

So the envelope is to the right, and the tall house shaped note card is to the left! This template comes complete with the roof pattern which covers the card top.

I chose to use the A Spot of Tea set to really tie in this theme! It was the perfect addition!

I just colored and stamped the pattern to match! The flowers I stamped are from the Fanciful Flourishesset. I stamped them because they are the larger version of the flowers that are in my “wall paper” and look like what I doodled on the mini tea cups! The sentiment is also from the A Spot of Tea set

Today is the LAST day of PEEK projects before you can purchase the AMAZING NEW! Release items for September! Now just because our product are releasing on the 1st, doesn’t mean our projects end! We still have over a WEEK of inspiring projects that are sure to jump start your own creative juices!!

As of the 1st, our Gallery will be live too! This will be a very exciting new feature that will definitely enable you to view so many projects, new and old, in one place. I can’t wait until YOU the customer has a chance to upload soon too!

Today our newest Design Team Member: Lisa Kind has a super cute project for you!! Be sure to check her out as she shares her first peek with MTME!

Yesterday I totally spaced and forgot to link Dawn and Tammy! So check our their creations!

Now as you know My Time Made Easy ™ LLC prides itself on coordinating products that are designed to make your papercrafting and gift giving easier than ever!!

My colors were fashioned after this gift, and a collection of papers being released by Kristin called Citrus Peel.

One of my most favorite things in the world is coffee!! Who wouldn’t LOVE this? A gift of K-Cups.

I am personally addicted to my Keurig, but you could put ANY coffee themed gift in here too! Or heck, just the idea of a Coffee House sitting on the counter-CUTE!

This is the Coffee House – Shoppe Window! (the coffee pot image is from Sign It, and it is SOOOOOO cute! I love it)

Would you believe me if I told you I made this in about 20 minutes (Including the time it took to “color” my design-and MINUS the roof-that took about 15 minutes)? Ok so it was actually almost 40 minutes, but once the coloring was done, I could just print and cut a ton of these for gifts. That wouldn’t take long at all. This template is a snap to put together.

The shoppes designs were put together by Sara, using all our NEW! images.

They include the following themes:

Antique Store

Baby Boutique

Bakery

Candy Store

Coffee House

Flower Shoppe

Hardware Store

Pet Store

Tea Parlor

and a Travel Agency!

That is only the beginning to the themed shoppe designs you can create.

All 4 sides of the Simply Sensational Shoppes are pre-designed, all you need to do is add the color, print and cut!!! It couldn’t get any easier. It is especially great for those mass production of gifts, just in time for the holidays 😀 Now don’t get me wrong-we all LOVE to get INKY, and the 4 NEW! sets: Home Improvement, On Display 1, Sign It & Shoppe Window (all available in digital too!) are ALL fabulous to aid you in the creative process, but sometime we need QUICK and even EASIER way of getting things made-like around the holidays!

You just go ahead and digitally “color” your sheet (simply follow the same instructions you would for coloring the digital stamp images ), then print! BAM! All 4 Shoppe sides are completed in minutes. LOVE IT!

PS We do plan on adding to this line as we add more elements to our upcoming release of coordinating products for the NEW! Shop Around & Accessories Mega Template. Your holiday projects will be so fun and easy.

Well here we are with day #3 of the My Time Made Easy ™ LLC September Release peeks, and the ideas/samples are just getting started! I have TONS to share, but am pacing myself for what I am sharing daily. We have so many amazing coordinating products coming out that it is hard to hold back and decide what to share and when!

You will have SO many possibilities for projects using any/all of the NEW! items. We are *only* releasing this template for September because of ALL the amazing possibilities that this ONE template has to offer. I wanted the team and myself to be able to take the time to show you just how amazing each and every creation can be!

We already have 3 ADDITIONAL stamp sets that are going to be released VERY SOON to coordinate with this template! These additions will allow you to easily further maximize the use of your Shop Around & Accessories Mega Template design/gift options.

OK enough of the blah, blah, blahing!!! Let me share a project that went from a simple, idea to reality, and turned out exactly as planned-which we all know that more often than not, usually doesn’t happen!

The colors and concept came from Kristin Bueter, where when we were rolling over this idea (of what we thought impossible), and in the conversation she was trying to get me away from creating the cake image using the colors PINK or RED! LOL! She challenged me to “Tiffany & Co.” like colors, along with the idea of this Shoppe. You know I can’t resist a challenge 😀

This was the result-

To the Happy Couple!

I made this themed shoppe, with the stunning cake image in the window to convey the look of a Wedding Cake in the window of a Bakery! I know I ALWAYS stop and stare when I see cakes in the bakery!

I kept the design of the Shop Around & Accessories Mega Template VERY SIMPLE!! I wanted the FOCUS to be on the window scene, and create something conceivable to give someone at a Wedding or Bridal Shower. The cake is from the On Display 1 set. I love the design of it. Since the cake is a MAIN attraction at Weddings what better Shoppe theme?

When creating this I used a textured cardstock, then scored the lines on the box every 1/2 inch, then brushed it with white craft ink! I think it looks neat. Like a old fashioned baker of sorts.

Once I again I digress….getting a super photo of this was very challenging because of the shadow cast by the awning. In person these stores look so amazing, but getting the photo is a bit problematic.

The cake actually looks like it is sitting on the shelf of a store, and the cake itself is in a ROUNDED 3 dimensional version.

This really is a MUST SEE in person to get the full effect!

To do this I made a box like “room”, that I adhered into the Shop Around template. That way it appears as if you are actually looking INTO a shoppe!! Because it is a enclosed “box/room” it stays safe from harm, not matter what gift you add inside!

When I made the Shop Around template, I used the Home Improvement Cut File, to create the cut out for my window. I then stamped my window frame from the Home Improvement set, cutting out the center first. I then layered some acetate behind it, which was stamped the with window pane image from the Shoppe Window set. I used a Teal Pallette ink for that, to match my project.

My roof is printed on the Sarah Sand since I wanted a subtle look, and picked up the gray from the satin ribbon which was my biggest starting point. I think its so luxurious and elegant looking!

The sign and coordinating rose are from the NEW! Sign it set. The sentiment is from the So Sentimental set. I love this sentiment, and it really tied in my gift/theme!

Ribbon by May Arts, Prima FlowersQuite honestly I have no one to give this to, so my “prop” is a crystal candle/votive holder from Princess House. Not sure if they are still in business but they were a DSA that I use to constantly purchase crystal any/everything from over a decade ago, pre-kids time. Since having children most of my precious crystal is carefully packed away from clumsy feet, and dirty curious hands 😀 I want my house to be a HOME, where my children could LIVE and grow and not be told “NO! Don’t touch that” constantly. I didn’t get rid of everything when I had children, just some of the stuff I felt I wanted to have once they moved out someday! LOL!

Well that does it for me today!!

Return for even more amazing ideas from myself and the team tomorrow. The first is approaching quickly and you will get to see all the amazing new goodies!

So many SWEET sets, and so little time! I feel like I could create about 100 different projects with this release. While I actually won’t be making 100, you all will receive OVER 40 different project ideas between myself and the team using these new release items over the next 10 days! Our Gallery will be LIVE on the 1st, so make sure you keep checking in as the team and I load new projects daily!

Today, some of the team and I have some SUPER SWEET projects for you to drool over 😀 Hop on over to:

NOTE: It is very difficult to get a good photo of your shop window, when your awning is casting a shadow! LOL!!! I wanted to get an additional light source to light up under the awning, but all my bulbs were burnt out (I always drop/knock over my photo lights! GRR!).

To create my theme sign, I stamped the sign, “sweet treat” sentiment, and mini version of the lollipops from the Sign It set!! The images in the Sign It set coordinate perfectly with the On Display 1 set.

In my window from the Home Improvement set, I stamped one of my FAVORITE images from the On Display 1 set that takes me back to MY childhood-the Gumball Machine! It has a “gumball” image that allows you to easily stamp a rainbow of gumballs with ease. I also used the CUTE lollipop image too! I LOVE IT!

As you can see I stamped the images IN the window, and even added a sentiment to it-just like you’d see on an actual store window.

I used the Shop Around & Accessories to create my awning! I simply cut the template from both white, and green cardstock. I cut the green awning into strips (using the scallop as my guide) to make my dual colored, realistic, 3 dimensional store awning. I think it looks *just* like an old fashioned shop from back in the early 1900’s! They just don’t typically have these types of stores around anymore like they use to.

The flower box stamp image from the Home Improvement set stamps perfectly on the Shop Window Box Accessories!! I love the idea of a 3 dimensional window box. Some people don’t actually stamp so I wanted this Mega Template to be as complete, and user friendly as possible! Oh and as I mentioned a million time, and I am certain is blatantly obvious by now-I LOVE 3 dimensional details.

I added some “grass” (aka wool roving) to my flower box, and popped in some petite Prima flowers!

The curtain valance was made using the patterned curtain from the Home Improvement set, stamped horizontally 😀 I HAD to add the butterfly from the Tending the Garden set. It looks like it is enjoying fluttering over the roses in the window box.

You will want to grab a cup of something, get comfy in front of your screen-preferably a quiet area, relax, and read!

This month is going to be the start of an amazing next couple of month’s, all designed to enhance all your holiday gift giving! The best part is these gift items can be made, or given ANY time of year, for ALL ages. Male, female, the young and old.

I *will* be offering some holiday themed goodness begining with our Oct 1st release. These will be some amazing themed stamp sets that coordinate with our packaging templates for the ultimate gift giving experience.

Let me get started sharing all the AMAZING news and NEW! Products for September!

We are starting early because this month we have SO MUCH to share! Now many of you took guesses at WHAT this release was ALL about, and MANY of you were spot on!

Let start with the NEW! Announcements!

I’m excited to announce that with the release on the 1st, we will FINALLY have our GALLERY open! That means you will EASILY be able to view any/all projects made by myself and the design team, in one place, right at your fingertips! To say I’m over the moon is an understatement.

As we reveal our projects for the release, we will each upload our photos to the NEW! Gallery. Because we fill out all our MTME supplies in our keywords, you can easily navigate the site and find any/all samples made with a particular product from our store!

As you may know this is a very exciting and much anticipated addition to the store! Lot’s of time, effort and research went into this addition. While it took some time to pull together, we needed it to be done RIGHT! A HUGE thank you to my web girl Sara for getting all this together. She is like my other right hand 😀

This month’s release will go LIVE on the 1st-with projects being added to the gallery daily during our project release peek week (say that 5 times fast). ALL of the projects myself, and the current design team have created over the last 10 months will get loaded fully by Oct. 1st. We’ve made a ton of projects, and I’d like to give my team some time to get their gallery loaded, so keep checking back 😀

Now for all of you customers wanting to upload, we aren’t ready for that just yet. We want to ensure we have all our bases covered with the design team loading, before opening the gallery up to everyone who wants to load their latest and greatest MTME projects!!

So stay tuned for the announcement when the customer portion of the gallery is ready. It won’t be too long from now.

We will soon also have a blog, and forum, so stay tuned! Another thing long in the making, but I want to ensure we do things RIGHT.

MORE changes!

Geny Cassidy is no longer with MTME, and sadly this will be Dawn Easton‘s last month with us. While we are sad to see them go we are excited to bring on two new very talented ladies:

Tammy Hershberger and Lisa Kind !!! Make sure you send them a warm welcome! I ahve worked with both these talented women on other teams and have long enjoyed and admired thier talent.

Next announcement: WE WANT YOU!

I am having a contest, in search of a GUEST Designer!

I will host a design team call every quarter! This means that every 3 months I will host a search, then pick 3 participants to be a guest for one month! After the 3 are chosen and complete thier turn, I will put my search out again!

You will be required to make a total of 6 cards for your release month! Template projects will be optional 😀

I am currently running this contest in search for guests for Oct, Nov, and Dec!

To enter our contest:

You must create a card using the Digital Paper and Images from My Time Made Easy ™ LLC. We offer several FREEBIES!! So no excuses 😀

This template has 4 coordinating stamp sets with MANY more to follow in the next couple of months!! You will have limitless possibilities for unique gift giving in no time 😀 Especially for the holidays (wink)

The Shop Accessories were designed to further enhance the design possibilities of the Shop Around Template!! They were designed to perfectly work together!

Awning:

3 1/4 Inches Wide

1 1/4 Inches Deep

Chimney:

2 Inches Tall

3/4 Inches Wide

1 Inch Deep

Pop Up Window:

1 1/4 Inch Wide

1 1/2 Inch Tall

Stairs:

2 Inches Wide

1 1/4 Inches Tall

1 Inch Deep

Window:

2 Inches Tall

1 1/2 Inches Wide

Window Box:

1 3/4 Inches Wide

3/4 Inches Deep

1/2 Inch tall

Wait until you see all these elements used 😀

Completed project sample: Welcome Home

I have had SO many requests for this particular stamp/template/paper combination that I could hardly wait to share it all with you. I’ve had this design done for some time now, but wanted to really MAXIMIZE the possibilities. There is SO much to share that you will have to return each day for a mega dose of inspiration.

This is sure to dress up any gift giving occasion. It is a gift within itself!

If you’ve been “shopping around” for the perfect gift box, for ANY time of year, then this is the box for you! Imagine all the little houses and shops you can create for yourself, or to dress up any gift, that can later be displayed in the receivers home, or re-gifted with style!

As stated above, over the next few months we are releasing stamp set additions that make this Shop Around & Accessories template AMAZING!

Here is the angled roof view.

The printable roof pattern is just the perfect addition to this template, but the possibilities DON’T stop there.

As you will soon see the Home Improvement stamp set kicks the possibilities up a few notches! (Details on this set below)

Whether you are going to be creating a “themed” shop, or a house, the stamps combined with the size and style of this template is going to blow you away.

You can also see the stairs, which have a wood-grain pattern stamped on them!! The wood grain stamp image fits perfectly on each step. They are just so cute and FULL of possibilities.

The mailbox is a super fun addition that can be great for this template, or hold its own on *any* card or tag! I cut the front of mine, and put it on a dimensional. I love the effect of anything being popped up, as much as possible!

Now for the side view!

As you can see I stamped 2 of the window images from the Home Improvement stamp set, to fit on the side of the house.

I stamped the grass image to go around the entire base of my house. It is easiest if you stamp the bottom prior to fully assembling your template.

I used the Home Improvement Pretty Pieces Cut File for my windows, which are stamped in a brown ink. I then re-stamped, and trimmed out my flower box part of the window, to create a 3 D effect. I used some pretty Flower Soft for my flower boxes! EASY PEASY.

As we make our way to the back of the house you can see the picture window that makes this template the perfect shop window, or large picture window! There ARE images that fill the shop window too (details below!).

On this project I stamped my window, colored my trim to match my house, and stamped by designer curtains in red. Both the designer curtain and solid curtain can layer on each-other for so many great color/pattern combinations! Use the curtains on either side of the windows, OR use it along the TOP for the look of a valance! Gotta love versatility.

I used the window box image for the front of my window. Now this stamp image also fits our 3 dimensional window box in the Shop Around Accessories template! “In” my window box I stamped my grass, and the flowers, cutting them out to be 3 dimensional. There is some fun flock on them too, for some added texture!

As we round to the other side of the house, I stamped my gate. Another great image for a quick, cute card sample.

You can also see the randomly stamped brick pattern on the chimney. Its a great whimsical touch! This Home Improvement set has several design building possibilities, like the brick, wood grain, and stone….to name a few!

I love the “attic” style windows on either side of the house. My grandmother had these in her house.

This is a 3 dimensional house/shop like box, perfect for year round gift giving! So many things you can put in there. Even if left empty is is a great decoration for all year long.

Not only is the gift box fun, but even more importantly it is FUNCTIONAL! With it being an amazing size you can put a wide variety of gifts in here, or use it in your home to HIDE items you may not want seen on a daily basis, like your remote control! LOL!

But best of all it can hold some amazing treats……

Hide any gift in here and it is certain to steal the show!

Here I have some pre-packaged chocolate covered Pretzel Sticks! Due to the roof angle I was able to easily fit them in here. Imagine bringing this to a Cookie Swap?! You’d be the talk of the party-and I don’t mean your cookie recipe.

This set was designed to not only enhance your Shop Around template, but also help make your little Shop Around box look like a home!

This set has a door, windows, curtains, window box, flowers, grass, mailbox, fence/gate, as well as bushes/clouds, brick, stone, scallop trim, clapboard/wood grain images for endless template enhancement and background building possibilities. Now you can quickly and easily enhance your projects with this stamp set and template file combination.

This set was designed to not only enhance your Shop Around template, but also help make your little Shop Around box look more like a home, with little time and need for effort!

Some Stamp Sizes:

Door: 1 1/4 inches wide, 2 inches tall

Large window: 2 1/2 inches squared

Curtains: About 2 1/2 inches tall

Window Box: About 2 3/4 inches long, almost 3/4 inches tall

Completed window: About 1 inch wide, almost 1 1/2 inches tall

Mailbox: 1 1/2 inches tall

Gate/Fence: 1 inch wide, 1 1/8 inch tall

There are endless design possibilities for this one, even for cards, tags, and even scrapbook pages! Don’t miss the Pretty Pieces Cut File : Homemade Card & Envelope, also sized perfectly for use with this set!

Images from On Display 1 were designed to fit perfectly IN the window, to allow you various “store front” possibilities as well, but you can put any images you feel you want inside as well!

This was designed to become the PERFECT window for your Shop Around Template. Images from On Display 1were designed to fit perfectly IN the window! There is even the option for adding window panes to your Shop window.

It looks just like the old fashioned store windows! There is even the option for adding window panes to your Shoppe Window. You also have a lantern, and Boutique sign for an additional add on.

This set was designed to allow you to highlight your gift giving occasion, or give a hint at what may be presented inside!The “sign” was created so your “Shop” template can easily have a theme! The images and sentiments coordinate to fit within the sign. This set is also meant to coordinate with the images in the On Display 1 set.

These images make great backgrounds or tag accents for any project. I think you will find the sentiments to be perfect for SO MANY gift ideas too!

You can create your own themed stores for example: candy store, ice cream parlor, flower shop, pet shop, coffee or tea house, new home, welcome baby and the possibilities don’t even end there!

Now you can quickly and easily enhance your projects with this cut file. This file was designed to allow you to cut out the image elements in the Home Improvement, Sign It, and Shoppe Windows set.

This is the perfect companion for the Shop Around Template as well as the Homemade Card & Envelope Pretty Pieces Cut File. Also be sure to check out the Welcome Home template.Homemade Card & Envelope:Available in PDF, SVG, GSD, DXF, WPC

WHEW! Are you exhausted yet? I hope not because we have MUCH more to share, as you can imagine from the other stamp set descriptions we have for you.I am just bursting at the “beams” (wink) to hear your thoughts on what you’ve seen and read so far! So lets hear it! Are you excited yet?

This release is sure to ROCK THE HOUSE!! Tune in tomorrow to see what I have IN STORE for you 😀

Before I even begin to explain WHERE I’ve been since last posting on the 7th (OH MY WORD! Has it really been that long?), and WHAT I’ve been up to, WHO wants a PEEK at what is being revealed tomorrow?

Here is a TINY view

Can you take a guess at what this months stamp/paper/template combo will be?

ALSO, we have a BIG announcement to make to, just in time for the release! So who wants to guess what that *may* be?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Comment on this post, to be entered to WIN the first MEGA Pretty Pacakging Template, with 4 Co-ordinating Stamp sets, and a Color Me Pretty Prinatables paper package !!!!!

Winner will be drawn TOMORROW! (Saturday 28th)

I promise this week of project will have been worth the wait since my last posting!

OK where have I been? What have I been up to?

More like what HAVEN’T I been doing?

Summer vacation = very limited crafting time for mom.

It was Amber’s 6th Birthday on the 13th! <—no party yet! We wait until Sept for that.

TONS of play dates, and time with my 18 month old niece.

We’ve all paid for the Dentist’s vacation home with all our appointments this summer!

Alexa is STILL in remission! As we had her checkup last week.

Back to school shopping.

August 23rd was our Wedding anniversary

Kristin and her daughter Tia came to stay for the last few days!! We had a BLAST! I miss them both already (they left this morning :C)

We FINALLY put our house up on the market! Granted it is the WORST time to do it, but once my hubby said OK I got right on it! I have my heart set on this house in particular, but obviously we have to wait for our home to sell. That is tough, but I believe in fate. I know God has a plan, and I just need to wait and be patient. If you know me, patience is NOT a quality I possess. I want everything yesterday, and I am willing to work my hiney off to make anything I set my mind to possible! I don’t shy away from hard work, and I’m totally dedicated to doing whatever I need to do, to get where I want to be. So having to depend on others to get to where I want to be is tough! With my business expanding and kids growing we need a little more room. We bought our home 8 years ago, and even added to it! It was originally only 2 bedrooms. We added an addition (then the market was sky high!) and have tried to make it work, but its not. Anyway….the time has come to move on. I just pray its before Christmas.

Juggling being a mom, and designing for my own company, on top of cranking out tons for samples for *every* release is quite challenging! Each release I look back and wonder HOW I got it all together! I do my best to consistently provide you with an arrangement of gift/card/tag ideas each month, in between the laundry and house keeping. MOST people would have a Nanny! LOL! I choose to do what I can in between being wife, mom, friend, maid, nurse, and taxi….to name a few of the hats we as women wear!

I’m not perfect at any of it either. As I type this post I just tried to DRINK my yogurt, instead of my coffee! (that is NOT even a joke!)

I’ve been feverishly designing for this release and finalizing all the templates and cut files for the upcoming holidays!! We have some amazing things in store, starting with our September Release! I tried to pull out all the stops in the next few months for you all to be able to create your own AFFORDABLE gifts this year.

Let’s be honest the economy isn’t what it use to be, so making your own gifts it not only heartfelt, but more affordable!

You know once the kids go back to school, and the days get shorter that it is time to start thinking FALL and gift giving. I’ll save all my blah, blah, blah, and excitement for tomorrow’s post!

In the meantime, I’ve been SUPER busy here, as I said. As you know with my children home for the summer I do my best to do as many fun & family oriented day activities as humanly possible!

This will be the FIRST year that all 3 of my children are in school FULL TIME! That is 6 hours of MY TIME! Don’t get me wrong, I am actually a bit teary about it. A day I so wanted/needed when they were at the “DRIVE ME INSANE” ages of 1, 3 and 5 are gone. I enjoy my children much more now that they are a smidgen older. I will miss them. I get so use to having them home in the summer that the first week of school I loathe the silence. I almost don’t know what to do with myself, and I watch the clock till it is time for them to come home. Once week 2 hits I get into a regular routine again. I’ve never had 6 consecutive crafting hours, so I can only imagine what I will get done!! Right now I craft like 2 MAYBE 3 hours (that includes design/computer time) a day, and more often than not that is even a stretch!

Anyway….the point is, I am here. I am still crafting! I’ve just been juggling alot (as I do most summer’s) and the payoff will be seen as the kids head off to school and the holidays unfold.

I have some amazing opportunities coming and I look forward to sharing everything with you as time allows.

I really want to thank ALL my loyal readers/followers/friends/customers and everyone in between for hanging in with me through the summer. I’m sure you have all been as busy as I have, and maybe you too are looking forward to returning to the routine of fall.

I hope you plan on stopping by because tomorrow will prove to be the start of a very exciting release!!!!!!!!!!!

I decided to save the best for last so to speak! I plan on offering more projects through the month (that is the PLAN anyway) but I am also getting ready for my children to go back to school and gear up for the holiday releases!! It is coming quicker than I evern imagined.

So let me share what I have today!

If you are on the store’s email list you have seen a peek at this project as it also came with an EXCLUSIVE SALE.

As the bag reads: $ALE! Guilt Free $hopping $pree, many of my store subscribers were able to take advantage of the sale by going on a little shopping spree!! I love that all the “S” letters in the set are actually $ signs 😀

Many time when you see something you get an idea in your head, and it just ends there. I want you all to see that this file has MANY more possibilities!! One of them being able to be used for a feminine card!

No matter what YOUR style is you can truly take these designs and make them your own. By putting your own touch or personal spin on them, each one can be different from the last! You can really get a whole new look each time you use a Pretty Packaging Template!

I love to get inspired by the item I am packaging, an ad with wonderful colors in a magazine or on TV, and sometimes it’s as simple as some patterned paper. No matter what you always need a idea or starting element.

You will CLEARLY see how this one box can go from an elegant Wedding favor, to a child’s birthday party favor!

First up we have a party favor for a Wedding next May.

My inspiration came from the scented sachet in the background.

A friend of mine is getting married in NH at a gorgeous place, in a Gazebo, in the middle of a garden. So, that being said she asked me to do a mock up of what I think would be the perfect wedding favor for such an event. Since her dress (and the grounds) has lots of lavender and it is her color scheme I was over the moon to give it whirl!!

She will be carrying lavender roses, and they will also make up the centerpieces.

She hasn’t finalized her decisions, but inside this sweet favor box, that will sit at each seat will either be: a sachet of fresh lavender, lavender soap, lavender scented candle, or mini flower pots with seeds, or just packet of flower seeds.

I love the drawer sachet idea, but she is still thinking, and she has plenty of time. In the meantime they will be making these for the big day.

I chose to use the watering can with layering images from Tending the Garden. Icut it out to hang from the satin ribbon that tes around my box. Since she is carrying roses, I stamped the rose buds on the label and added a Prima rose to the center of my bow.

I added a little lace trim along the top for a touch of elegance.

Now we move on to the kids party favor.

Amber is going to be 6 on August 13th. She loves Tinkerbell and has toyed with a Fairy dress up party. So I’ve been toying with a colorful arrangement of quick and simple favor ideas.

We are thinking about a rainbow theme of colors.

I thought that I would use the star confetti design from the Taylors Teeth collection of papers, to make each box a different color! It would be like a rainbow of favor boxes, unless she decides on a specific color for her party.

By printing these on the confetti paper most of the design is done.

For this one I stamped my fairy on this kids toy embellishment maker (I think they are called SPOTZ) with black StazOn. I sandwiched in some acetate to add some start glittery confetti that I had 😀 So its like a fairy shaker.

I added some siler cording, and glued on some glittery stars

Super simple and super sweet.

Talk about an affordable favor 😀

Now the original size of the package is perfect for any party favor! You can fit just the right amount inside without it being “cheap” or “over the top”. Since hosting my three children’s birthday parties year after year I am a pro at the perfect party favor 😀 I really enjoy making the elements that make the party come together and leave people talking.